Sheriff's Citizen Patrol

General Information

In early 2009, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office implemented a new volunteer program, the Sheriff’s Citizen Patrol (SCP). The Sheriff’s Citizen Patrol is a citizen based program which allows residents of El Paso County the ability to volunteer within their community performing law enforcement related duties which do not require a sworn member. This program allows volunteers to actively participate in a wide variety of opportunities which were historically unavailable to volunteers.

Animal Complaints – Respond to calls of loose or abandoned animals, as well as animal neglect or abuse.

Training for the Sheriff’s Citizen Patrol program is twofold. First, volunteers are recruited for and must attend the Sheriff’s Office Citizens’ Academy. Classes generally meet on Tuesday nights at the Office of the Sheriff in the Recruit Academy Training room. Training includes an overview of the Mission of the Sheriff’s Office, as well as discussion pertaining to the various bureaus, divisions, sections and units which comprise the Sheriff’s Office.

During the Citizens’ Academy information on the Sheriff’s Citizen Patrol program is offered to those students who may be interested in pursuing such an opportunity. Interested candidates are recruited as conditional members and will submit a completed volunteer application for the Sheriff’s Citizen Patrol program. These applicants must successfully complete a background process which is identical to those required of applicants who are applying to be deputy sheriffs. This is necessary because a member of the Sheriff’s Citizen Patrol holds a position in which public trust is paramount.

Minimum Requirements for the Sheriff’s Citizen Patrol Program Include:

21 years of age or older and United States Citizenship (Applicants who are 18 to 20 may be considered on a case by case basis)

Once an applicant completes the Citizens' Academy, they must attend and successfully complete an additional four week Citizen Patrol Academy. The Citizen Patrol Academy generally meets twice a week for four weeks and covers a myriad of law enforcement related topics. The curriculum focuses on the skills which will be necessary for the applicant to have while working as a Citizen Patrol Member. Topics include officer safety, law enforcement ethics, report writing, radio communications, speed monitoring, directing traffic, accident scene preservation, crime prevention, and much more.

Upon graduation from the Citizen Patrol Academy, members will be quickly integrated into the Citizen Patrol Program via a Field Training Officer program taught by Citizen Patrol Members who have completed a minimum of 200 Citizen Patrol hours and have been selected for this position by the Support Services Manager and Citizen Patrol Coordinator.

To learn more about the Sheriff's Citizen Patrol download the tri-fold brochure located on the right.

For further information regarding the Sheriff’s Citizen Patrol please contact the Volunteer Program Coordinator at (719) 520-7216.

To download the Vacation Check Request Form click the resource on the right.